The extensive incompetence of on-ice officials under the administration of VP and Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom and commissioner Gary Bettman — we can’t ever forget him — is the NHL’s best defense against charges of corruption or favoritism that might be lobbed at the league.

You do recognize the subject matter, correct, following Monday’s night’s 6-3 crashing halt to defeat to the Stars in Dallas in which two more video reviews went against the Rangers, just as a pair did on Saturday in New Jersey and just as a couple also did on Nov. 12 at the Garden when the Jackets were in town?

The math adds up to six consecutive video reviews going the wrong way for the Blueshirts over their past three games, including a pair of major penalties being reduced by the refereeing tandem that originally made the calls, not by the folks in the Toronto nerve center.

This season, the Rangers have faced 12 video reviews. They have come out on the short end 10 times.